Wednesday 12 November 2008

BBC tv "mental health" reality show

With apologies to our non-UK readers (because the player only works in the UK), perhaps you may have seen this show from the BBC called 'How Mad are you?

Obviously you will be aware of the statistics which say that 1 in 4 people have some kind of mental illness? Which means that if you know 3 sane people, then its YOU!! (sorry ;-)

the Premise of the programme is that 3 psychologists watch the behaviours of 10 people, 5 of whom have had some kind of recorded "mental disorder" and 5 who are 'normal' whatever that means, and the psychologists have to guess which is which.

Much talk of TLE and other topics which have featured here and in the forum: enjoy

Aloha Gary

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00fm5ql/b00fm5mb/Horizon_How_Mad_Are_You_How_Mad_Are_You_Part_1/

4 comments:

Karl Le Marcs said...

Aloha Gary: Oh Dear Gosh, NO!
Has the Mental Health sector really come to this?
*shakes head in dismay*

Anthony Peake said...

Gary,

Thanks for this. I will check it out in the next few days.

dorje said...

Wow- sounds like that could turn out to be an other nail in the coffin of the myth of normality... I'll be interested to check that one out too. Thanks Gary

Johar said...

Thanks for the link Gary, I've watched with interest the experts using their craft to diagnose the subjects.
It was interesting to see their use of terms like 'text book case', doesn't fit the criteria' etc. Who Does!!?
I hope this programme highlights to people that those with 'diagnosed' mental health issues are probably the most healthy of the all of us, as they have recognised they need help and sought it.
Having said that, I still feel there is a need for a different kind of support when someone seeks help, not just text book diagnosis and drugs.
I hope this programme shows that the 'experts' are sometimes as much in the dark as the rest of us and the answer lies with the individuals reality rather than a pigeon hole textbook diagnosis.